Lipase single reagent system

ABSTRACT

A single system reagent for the determination of lipase, formulated as an emulsion comprising a lipase-active fatty acid source; a first lipase activator comprising colipase; a second lipase activator; a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor; a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100; a second emulsion stabilizer; a buffer; and an anti-precipitant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a single system reagent for the determination of lipase by turbidimetric method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Human pancreatic lipase is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of approximately 45,000 daltons. Lipase cleaves emulsified long-chain triglycerides to yield mono- and diglycerides, and fatty acids. It is known that cleavage of triglycerides by lipase only occurs at the oil/water interface of an oil in water emulsion. In other words, lipase activity is manifested only on the boundary surface of oil droplets existing as the dispersed phase in a continuous water phase. Lipase-induced cleavage of triglycerides is affected by substrate surface phenomena.

As an indication of both acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic injury, and miscellaneous abdominal disorders, a patient's serum and tissue lipase activity is a powerful diagnostic tool. Because of lipase's unique reaction mechanism, however, the diagnostic usefulness of lipase depends on the method used for its estimation.

Several methods for serum lipase assay are known. Older methods, such as the Cherry-Crandall method, required overnight sample incubation and time-consuming titration to a color-change end point. Because of the numerous steps involved, the procedures tended to suffer from poor reproducibility.

Variations on the Cherry-Crandall method have been reported; their primary limitation is the triglyceride emulsion. Because lipase activity varies with the overall surface area of the oil droplets in the emulsion, reproducible results were difficult to obtain. Even with the best efforts, the emulsions employed in these methods varied from batch to batch.

Another problem with early assay methods is their indifference to lipoprotein lipase interference. Particularly among patients receiving the drug heparin, falsely increased lipase values have resulted when lipoprotein lipase interference has not been accounted for.

Turbidimetric methods for lipase determination are known. In a typical turbidimetric assay, a sample of lipase-containing serum is mixed with a predetermined amount of a triglyceride-water emulsion, and the clarification of the turbidity of the emulsion is followed photometrically.

Although turbidimetric techniques have proven to be both more reliable and more convenient than older titrimetric serum lipase tests, the techniques suffer from certain drawbacks. The primary problem is due to non-uniformity of the size of the emulsified oil droplets. To permit spectrophotometry, the emulsion must be very dilute. Negative lipase values occasionally result, because increases in optical absorbance are obtained during the measurement phase of the test.

Attempts to improve the turbidimetric technique by solving the problem of droplet size non-uniformity are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,897 to Neumann et al. describes a dry reagent for the turbidimetric determination of lipase, which forms an emulsion when water is added thereto. The dry reagent is prepared by lyophilization of an emulsion produced by conventional methods. In addition to the expense of lyophilization, the reagent suffers from the inherent drawback of potential human error in the reconstitution of the emulsion.

Accordingly, a need exists for a reagent for the determination of lipase that gives consistently uniform results, is easily prepared in toto in the factory, and is ready to use in the field as a single system reagent. The present invention fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A single system reagent for the determination of lipase is provided. The reagent is formulated as an emulsion comprising a lipase-active fatty acid source (such as a triglyceride), a first lipase activator comprising colipase, a second lipase activator, a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor, a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100, a second emulsion stabilizer, a buffer, and an anti-precipitant. The reagent can be prepared in toto in the factory and is ready to use in the field as a complete reagent for the turbidimetric determination of lipase.

More specifically, sodium chloride and/or calcium chloride serve as additional activators. A bile acid salt, such as sodium deoxycholate, acts as a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor. Triton X100, the first emulsion stabilizer, is a polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether. A preferred second emulsion stabilizer is urea. 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol, commonly known as TRIS, or TRIS-buffer, is the preferred buffer. Brij-35, a polyoxyethylene ether, is the preferred anti-precipitant. A microbial growth retardant, such as sodium azide, may also be added to the formulation.

The reagent is prepared by first compounding an aqueous component comprising colipase, calcium chloride and/or sodium chloride, a bile acid salt, a buffer, a microbial growth retardant, and an anti-precipitant. An oil-based component comprising a lipase-active fatty acid source and Triton X100 (as a stabilizer) is compounded separately. The two components are separately filtered and then combined, with agitation, to form a uniform, ready-to-use emulsion.

The lipase single reagent systems of the instant invention are stable for at least about twelve days at 56° C. which corresponds to a lifetime of at least two years at 4° C., which is more than ample to account for the time shipment of the product to any part of the world and storage up to the time of use. Moreover an assay can be completed within ten minutes, as required for commercial acceptability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE shows the linear relationship between sample lipase concentration and change in optical absorbance obtainable with a composition of the invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

There is provided a single system reagent for the turbidimetric determination of lipase. The reagent is formulated as a convenient, ready-to-use emulsion that can be prepared in toto in a factory. The emulsion comprises a lipase-active fatty acid source; a first lipase activator comprising colipase; a second lipase activator; a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor; a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100; a second emulsion stabilizer; a buffer; and an anti-precipitant. A microbial growth retardant may also be added.

Useful lipase-active fatty acid sources include long chain triglycerides, short or medium chain mono- or triglycerides, and tweens (polyoxyethylene ethers of mixed partial oleic esters of sorbitol anhydrides). Long chain triglycerides (triglycerides having fatty acid residues with C-14 to about C-25 chain lengths) are preferred, because they are preferentially cleaved by lipase. In contrast, the other mentioned substrates are also subject to cleavage by carboxylesterases. Triolein, a triglyceride having C-17 fatty acid fragments, is a preferred triglyceride. Olive oil is yet another useful lipase-active fatty acid source. Acceptable reagent formulations can be prepared with lipase-active fatty acid source concentrations ranging from about 0.2 to about 0.4 mM. Preferably, the fatty acid source comprises an alcohol solution thereof. n-Pentanol is a preferred solvent.

Cleavage of triglycerides by lipase is known to occur only at the oil and water interface of an emulsion in which the oil is the discontinuous phase and water is the continuous phase. Compounds which prevent the approach of lipase to the emulsified triglycerides have an inhibitory effect on lipase activity. Bile salts, phospholipids, and free fatty acids, having both polar and nonpolar regions, tend to concentrate at the interface and inhibit lipase. Proteins, such as albumin, have a similar effect, probably owing to lipids bound to albumin which are attracted to the hydrophobic phase.

In the present invention, colipase, a 10,000 Dalton molecule, is used as a lipase activator and overcomes the inhibitory effect of lipase blocking agents by "anchoring" lipase to lipid globules. Preferred colipase concentrations range from about 70 to about 590 U/ml.

In addition to colipase, the reagent comprises a second lipase activator selected from the group consisting of alkali chlorides, alkaline earth chlorides, and mixtures thereof. Preferably both sodium chloride and calcium chloride are used. Although sodium chloride is a lipase inhibitor in concentrations of 100 mM and higher, in the presence of colipase and bile salts its inhibitory effect is eliminated. In concentrations of from about 20 to 40 mM, sodium chloride is a lipase activator. Similarly, lipase activity is increased when the reagent contains calcium. Calcium helps maintain linear reaction kinetics and additionally facilitates emulsion stability. Presently preferred calcium concentrations range from about 0.05 to about 0.5 mM.

As noted above, the presence of lipoprotein lipase in some test samples interferes with the accurate determination of lipase. In order to inhibit the effect of lipoprotein lipase, it is desirable to include a bile acid or a salt thereof in the reagent. The bile acid ordinarily inhibits both lipase and lipoprotein lipase activity; however, in the presence of colipase, the effect on lipase activity is nullified. Suitable bile acid salts include deoxycholates and taurodeoxycholates. Sodium deoxycholate is preferred. The preferred bile acid or bile acid salt concentrations range from about 15 to about 30 mM.

Emulsion stabilizers are also present. It is preferred to utilize two different stabilizers. A first emulsion stabilizer comprises a polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether, sold commercially as Triton X. This class of compounds has the general formula: CH₃ C(CH₃)₂ CH₂ C(CH₃)₂ --C₆ H₆ --O(CH₂ CH₂ O)_(x) H, with an average composition of C₃₄ H₆₂ O₁₁. Triton X100 is the only one known to be functional and is employed in a concentration of from about 0.025 to about 0.13 percent by weight of the total composition. While not discounting that other equivalents exist, it has been found that Triton X100 is unique in its ability to insure long-term stability of the emulsion of the instant invention.

A second emulsion stabilizer is preferably urea, in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 1.0 percent by weight.

In order to control the pH of the reagent, a buffer is added. The presently preferred buffer is TRIS, also known as TRIS buffer: 2-amino-2-hydroxy-methyl-1,3-propanediol. Acceptable buffer concentrations range from about 0.025 to about 0.13 percent by weight.

To further stabilize the reagent, and to prevent precipitation of human sera samples, an anti-precipitant, such as a polyoxyethelene ether of an aliphatic alcohol (sold commercially as "Brij") is added. A preferred anti-precipitant is Brij-35: polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether. Preferred anti-precipitant concentrations range from about 0.02 to about 0.2 percent by weight.

In addition to the above constituents, it is desirable to include a microbial growth retardant within the reagent. A preferred retardant is sodium azide, in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 percent by weight. Alternatively, sulfur-containing preservatives can be used.

The invention has been described above as a compilation of components, and conditions, each of which has a broad acceptable range of concentrations or values. Optimization studies were carried out in order to determine preferred and optimal values of each component within the prepared emulsion. The results are given in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Component or Parameter                                                                         Preferred Range                                                                              Optimum                                          ______________________________________                                         Triolein        0.25-0.35 mM  0.305 mM                                         Colipase.sup.1  100-250 U/ml  171 U/ml                                         Sodium Chloride 30-35 mM      32.3 mM                                          Calcium Chloride                                                                               0.15-0.25 mM  0.195 mM                                         Sodium Deoxycholate.sup.2                                                                      17-25 mM      19.5 mM                                          Triton X100.sup.3                                                                              0.05-0.1%     0.074%                                           Urea            0.2-0.5%      0.244%                                           Tris.sup.4      17-22 mM      19.5 mM                                          Brij-35.sup.5   0.04-0.1%     0.058%                                           Sodium Azide    0.08 to 0.12% 0.098%                                           pH              9.0-9.4       9.2                                              ______________________________________                                          1. Commercially available from Kodak Chemical Co. One unit of colipase is      defined as the amount of enzyme needed to release 1 mole of fatty acid pe      minute from tributyrin at 25° C.                                        2. Sodium salt of deoxycholic acid.                                            3. A polyethylene glycol pisooctylphenyl ether, manufactured and sold by       Rohm and Haas Co.                                                              4. 2amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3 propanedial, manufactured and sold by            Commercial Solvents Corp.                                                      5. Polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether, manufactured and sold by ICI United      States, Inc.                                                             

The present invention also comprises a method for the preparation of a single system reagent for the determination of lipase. The method comprises the following steps:

An oil-based component is prepared by mixing a lipase active fatty acid source with a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100.

The oil-based component is filtered.

An aqueous component is prepared by combining a first lipase activator comprising colipase; a second lipase activator (e.g. sodium chloride, calcium chloride and mixtures thereof); a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor; a second emulsion stabilizer comprising, e.g. urea; a buffer (e.g. 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol); and an anti-precipitant (e.g. Brij-35). Preferably, the aqueous component also comprises a microbial-growth retardant, such as sodium azide.

The aqueous component is filtered.

A stable emulsion is formed by mixing the filtered oil-based component with the filtered aqueous component. The preferred aqueous component to oil-based component ratio is approximately 40:1. The result is a convenient-to-use, single system reagent that may be used in the turbidimetric determination of lipase.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pH of the aqueous component is adjusted prior to the formation of the emulsion. Acceptable results are achieved when the pH is within the range of about 8.8 to about 9.6. Preferably, the pH is within the range of about 9.0 to about 9.4; optimal results are realized at pH 9.2.

The following Example is given for the purpose of illustrating the present invention.

EXAMPLE

An aqueous solution is prepared by dissolving the following components in distilled water to the indicated concentrations: 175 U/ml colipase, 0.2 mM calcium chloride, 20 mM sodium deoxycholate, 0.25 percent by weight urea, 20 mM Tris buffer, 35 mM sodium chloride, 0.1 percent by weight sodium azide, and 0.06 percent by weight Brij-35. The pH of the solution is adjusted to 9.2 and the solution is filtered. An oil-based component is prepared by forming an n-propanol solution containing 12.5 mM triolein and three percent by weight Triton X100. This component is filtered. A working emulsion is formed by mixing the aqueous component with the oil-based component in a 40:1 ratio. The composition of the working emulsion is shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Component            Concentration                                             ______________________________________                                         Colipase             171 U/ml                                                  Calcium Chloride     0.195 mM                                                  Sodium Deoxycholate  19.5 mM                                                   Triolein             0.305 mM                                                  Urea                 0.244%                                                    Triton X100          0.049%                                                    Tris                 19.5 mM                                                   Sodium Chloride      32.2 mM                                                   Sodium Azide         0.098%                                                    Brij-35              0.058%                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The working emulsion was assayed for linearity. The results are shown in FIG. 1. As indicated, the reagent prepared as in Example 1 is linear to at least 700 I.U. of lipase. In other words, accurate lipase determinations are obtained over a broad range of lipase concentrations. Good turbidimetric sensitivity and linearity is obtained when approximately 40 l of sample is mixed with one ml of reagent; a sensitivity of about 1.1×10⁻⁴ ABS units/I.U. lipase/minute is achieved for this sample to reagent ratio.

The temporal stability of the reagent has been determined. An emulsion was compounded in the manner described in Example 1 and stressed at varying temperatures. The reagent to sample ratio was 2 ml:0.080 ml. Samples were lipase-spiked human sera. Turbidimetric measurements were performed at 340 nm at 37° C., with a reaction time of four minutes. The results are shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Ai          Absorbance                                                         Temperature Day 3        Day 12  Day 14                                        ______________________________________                                         4° C.                                                                               1.5167       NA      NA                                            Room Temp.  NA           NA      1.4150                                        41° C.                                                                              NA           NA      1.2603                                        47° C.                                                                              1.4720       NA      1.4056                                        57° C.                                                                              1.5136       1.4590  NA                                            Blank                                                                          4° C.                                                                               0.0011       NA      NA                                            Room Temp.  NA           NA      0.0017                                        41° C.                                                                              NA           NA      0.0012                                        47° C.                                                                              0.0014       NA      0.0014                                        57° C.                                                                              0.0017       0.0016  NA                                            ______________________________________                                          NA = Not Assayed.                                                        

As indicated in Table 3, the emulsion is stable for a minimum of 14 days at 47° C. and 12 days at 57° C. which corresponds to a lifetime in excess of two years at 4° C.

The invention has been described in exemplary and preferred embodiments, but is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a number of additional modifications and improvements can be made without departure from the essential spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited by the above disclosure, but only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A single emulsion reagent system for the determination of lipase comprising:a lipase active fatty acid source; a first lipase activator comprising colipase provided in an amount sufficient to anchor lipase to liquid globules; an activating amount of a second lipase activator selected from an alkaline earth chlorides and mixtures of alkaline earth chlorides and alkali chlorides; a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor selected from bile acid and bile acid salts; a stabilizing amount of a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether; a second emulsion stabilizer; a buffer present in an amount sufficient to maintain pH in these of from about 8.8 to about 9.6; and an anti-precipitant provided in an amount sufficient to prevent precipitation of constituents of human sera.
 2. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lipase active fatty acid source is a triglyceride.
 3. A reagent as claimed in claim 2, wherein the triglyceride has fatty acid residues containing from fourteen to 25 carbon atoms.
 4. A reagent as claimed in claim 2, wherein the triglyceride is triolein.
 5. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lipase active fatty acid source is olive oil.
 6. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lipase active fatty acid source has a concentration of from about 0.2 to about 0.4 mM.
 7. A reagent as claimed in claim wherein the colipase has a concentration of from about 70 to about 590 U/ml.
 8. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali chloride is sodium chloride.
 9. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline earth chloride is calcium chloride.
 10. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second lipase activator comprises a mixture of from about 24 to about 40 mM sodium chloride and from about 0.05 to about 0.35 mM calcium chloride.
 11. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bile acid salt is a deoxycholate.
 12. A reagent as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bile acid salt is sodium deoxycholate.
 13. A reagent as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bile acid salt has a concentration of from about 15 to about 30 mM.
 14. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Triton X100 has a concentration of from about 0.025 to about 0.13 percent by weight.
 15. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second emulsion stabilizer comprises urea.
 16. A reagent as claimed in claim 15, wherein the urea has a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 percent by weight.
 17. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol.
 18. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer has a concentration of from about 15 to about 30 mM.
 19. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti-precipitant comprises a polyoxyethylene ether of a higher aliphatic alcohol.
 20. A reagent as claimed in claim 19, wherein the polyoxyethylene ether is polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether.
 21. A reagent as claimed in claim 19, wherein the polyoxyethylene ether has a concentration of from about 0.02 to about 0.2 percent by weight.
 22. A reagent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a microbial growth retardant.
 23. A reagent as claimed in claim 22, wherein the microbial growth retarder comprises sodium azide.
 24. A reagent as claimed in claim 22, wherein the microbial growth retarder has a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 percent by weight.
 25. A single system reagent for the determination of lipase, formulated as an emulsion comprising:from about 0.25 to about 0.35 mM triolein; from about 100 to about 350 U/ml colipase; from about 0.15 to about 0.25 mM calcium chloride; from about 30 to about 35 mM sodium chloride; from about 17 to about 25 mM deoxycholate; from about 0.05 to about 0.1 percent by weight Triton X 100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctyl-phenyl ether; from about 0.2 to about 0.5 percent by weight urea; from about 17 to 22 mM 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol; and from about 0.04 to about 0.1 percent by weight polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether.
 26. A reagent as claimed in claim 25, further comprising from about 0.08 to about 0.12 percent by weight sodium azide.
 27. A single system reagent for the determination of lipase, formulated as an emulsion comprising:about 0.305 mM triolein; about 171 U/ml colipase; about 0.195 mM calcium chloride; about 32.3 mM sodium chloride; about 19.5 mM deoxycholate; about 0.074 percent by weight Triton X100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctyl-phenyl ether; about 0.244 percent by weight urea; about 19.5 mM 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol; about 0.058 percent by weight polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether; and about 0.098 percent by weight sodium azide.
 28. A single system reagent for the determination of lipase, prepared by:forming an oil-based component by mixing a lipase active fatty acid source with a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether; filtering the oil-based component; forming an aqueous component by combining a first lipase activator comprising colipase; a second lipase activator selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and mixtures thereof; a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor; a second emulsion stabilizer; a buffer; a microbial growth retardant, and an anti-precipitant; filtering the aqueous component; and forming a stable emulsion by mixing the filtered oil-based component with the filtered aqueous component.
 29. A single system reagent as claimed in claim 28, wherein the aqueous component is adjusted to a pH of from about 8.8 to about 9.6 prior to filtering.
 30. A reagent as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pH is within the range of from about 9.0 to about 9.4.
 31. A reagent as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pH is adjusted to about 9.2.
 32. In a reagent emulsion for determining lipase in human sera which emulsion is formed from, a substrate, colipase, calcium chloride, a bile acid salt, and a buffer the improvement which comprises including as essential components of the emulsion Triton X100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether as a stabilizer and in a stabilizing amount sufficient to enable the single reagent to be stable for at least about 12 days at 56° C. and have a completion time in the determination of lipase of within ten minutes and an anti-precipitant in an amount sufficient to prevent precipitation of constituents of sera undergoing lipase assay.
 33. A single stable liquid reagent for determination of lipase provided as an emulsion which comprises:a lipase active fatty acid source present in a concentration of from about 0.2 to about 0.4 mM; a first lipase activator comprising co-lipase present in a concentration from about 70 to about 590 U/ml; a second lipase activator selected from the group consisting of calcium chlorides and mixtures of sodium calcium chlorides and sodium chlorides in which the concentration of calcium chlorides is from about 0.15 to about 0.25 mM; a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X-100, a polyethylene glycol p-isooctyl-phenyl ether present in concentration from about 0.025 to about 0.13% by weight; a second emulsion stabilizer present in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 0.1% by weight; a buffer present in a quantity sufficient to provide a pH of about 8.8 to about 9.6; and as an anti-precipitant an effective amount of a polyoxyethylene ether of higher aliphatic alcohol. 